complaint·March 9, 2023

LPA Mendez interviewed witness (W1) on 11/10/22 and stated that they had witnessed a few teachers get frustrated and grab children by the arm. W1 stated that they witnessed a staff grab a child by the arm and pull them down to the ground. W1 stated they had to ask staff twice to have the child’s diaper checked before staff intervened in changing child’s diaper. W1 stated that they had not seen the toddlers practicing handwashing. W1 stated that children play in dirt and rinse their hands in a bucket before coming inside facility. W1 stated a staff appeared irritated and made inappropriate comments in front of a child involving what was in the child’s diaper. W1 stated they have witnessed staff leave the classroom once or twice, to get snacks leaving only an aide with six toddlers in the room. LPA Mendez interviewed four staff (S1-S4) on 11/15/22 and asked staff if they or any staff have handled children in a rough manner, four out of four staff stated no. LPA Mendez asked how they discipline children in which S1-S4 all stated that they redirect children. LPA Mendez asked staff how often they are changing children’s diapers in which four of four stated that they change children’s diapers every 2 hours or as needed. LPA Mendez asked S1-S4 if day care children were left in in the care of an unqualified adult in which 4 out of 4 staff stated no, they all stated that all adults are qualified to be working with children. LPA Mendez interviewed ten parents (P1-P10) on 1/19/23,1/30/23. 2/24/23 and 3/3/23. LPA Mendez asked parents if they had witnessed staff handling their child or any child in care in a rough manner in which 10 of 10 parents stated no. LPA Mendez asked parents if their child wears diapers, 10 of 10 parents stated yes their child wears diapers. LPA Mendez asked parents if they have picked up their child in a soiled diaper in which 9 of 10 parents stated no, their child did not have a soiled diaper during pick up. LPA Mendez asked parents if children were being picked up with unwashed hands and if parents had any concerns about handwashing in which 9 of 10 parents stated no. LPA Mendez asked parents if they had seen any other adults that was not staff caring or supervising for children in which 10 of 10 parents stated no, it is the same staff during drop off and pick up. During today’s visit facility was toured. LPA observed 19 children napping in the classroom. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the alleged violation occurred, and the findings are unsubstantiated. An exit interview was conducted. The Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 days.